&#39;Newfane cherry&#39; cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree,  prunus avium , originating as a hybrid seedling of the cross: ‘Emperor Francis’×‘Stella’. This new variety is unique from its parents and other sweet cherries varieties because it is a light fleshed, light skinned variety that is suitable for brining uses and is self-fertile.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree that originatedas a seedling of Prunus avium in the breeding program of CornellUniversity and is hereinafter referred to as ‘Newfane’ sweet cherry.This new variety is unique because this is the first self-fertile,yellow flesh-type, sweet cherry that has been made available to thecommercial nursery industry of the United States of America; and thefruit has several traits that make it favorable for dual-purpose freshmarket and processed uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This new and distinct variety of sweet cherry was discovered in1984 by Roger D. Way (retired), a plant breeder at the New York StateAgricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y., a research unit ofCornell University, hereinafter referred to as Geneva ExperimentStation. By breeding methodology convention at the Geneva ExperimentStation it was designated as NY 13688. This selection was initiallyassigned Experiment Station Breeding Record Number 75.304, a hybridpopulation of trees that resulted from hybridizing the varieties‘Emperor Francis’×‘Stella’ in 1975, and this seedling was designated asNY 13688 when it was planted in 1976 as part of a population of 433siblings possessing the same parentage. The orchard location where theseedling was grown and first noticed was designated as Crittenden Farm,Field Number 30, Row 5, Tree 010. This seedling was first noticedbecause in 1984 Cornell scientists purposely bagged branches to isolatethe flowers from pollinating insect visits and it cropped heavily insidethe bag, proving that it was self-fertile; and the fruit were light inflesh color and possessed a ninety percent red blush. This skincoloration was considered as uncommon and potentially valuable for freshmarket appeal of the fruit. The new variety has been propagated onMazzard seedling, Mahaleb seedling, ‘Gisela 6’, ‘M×M 2’ and ‘M×M 60’rootstocks and remains true to the description herein.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the newvariety as depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible incolor illustrations of this character. These specimens were obtained atthe Geneva Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y.

[0004]FIG. 1. illustrates the intact fruit and foliage of the newvariety at maturity.

[0005]FIG. 2. Illustrates the blossoms of the new variety.

A BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0006] A detailed description of the ‘Newfane’ sweet cherry cultivarfollows using The Royal Society of London Colour Chart for coloridentification except where general color terms are sufficient.

[0007] Locality of the original discovery and observations is theCrittenden Farm Research Orchard Number 30, Row 5, tree 010 (assignedthe designation NY 13688), Geneva Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y.,U.S.A.

[0008] Parentage: A hybrid seedling of the cross: ‘EmperorFrancis’×‘Stella’.

[0009] Tree:

[0010]Age of specimen.—25 years old.

[0011]Height.—5 M.

[0012]Width.—4.5 M.

[0013]Size.—68 cm in diameter at 100 cm above ground level.

[0014]Vigor.—Medium.

[0015]Density.—Medium.

[0016]Form.—Upright spreading, with medium level of lateral branching.

[0017]Production.—Heavy, 200 to 250 pounds per tree per season.

[0018]Bearing.—Annual on spurs and on 3 to 4 bud positions located atthe base of one year old shoots.

[0019]Disease resistance.—Similar to ‘Emperor Francis’ in tolerance tobrown rot fungus of the blossoms and fruit (rated 7 at Geneva on scaleof 1, as worst, to 9, as best); also similar to ‘Emperor Francis’ intolerance to bacterial canker of the tree and fruit (rated 8 at Genevaon scale of 1, as worst, to 9 as best); highly tolerant of black knotfungus of the wood.

[0020]Cold hardiness.—Good, crops regularly in test orchards incommercial fruit districts of New York and Michigan.

[0021]Graft compatibility.—Good, produces compatible graft unions withMazzard seedling, Mahaleb seedling, ‘Gisela 6’, ‘M×M 2’ and ‘M×M 60’cherry rootstocks.

[0022] Trunk:

[0023]Size.—68 cm in diameter at 100 cm above ground.

[0024]Surface.—Bark is smooth with prominent lenticels.

[0025]Bark color.—Grayed Orange Group 166A where directly exposed to thesun.

[0026]Lenticels.—Varying in length from 1.5 to 3.0 cm and width from0.25 to 0.5 cm, prominent, horizontal, elliptical.

[0027]Lenticel color.—Grayed Orange 167 A.

[0028] Vegetative Buds:

[0029]Placement.—At bud positions 4 and higher numbered from the base ofnew growth, and at tip of each fruit spur.

[0030]Appearance.—Pointed and flatter than flower buds on previousseason's annual growth of shoots.

[0031]Color.—Yellow Green 144 B.

[0032] Leaves:

[0033]Size.—9.0 to 10.5 cm in length, 5.5 to 6.25 cm in width withpetiole 6.0 to 6.5 cm in length.

[0034]Form.—Symmetrical halves on both sides of central axis,asymmetrical tapering with taper from petiole to about three fourths ofthe length gradual to this its widest point and sharply tapered back tothe apex.

[0035]Thickness.—Medium.

[0036]Margin.—Serrations regular and bluntly pointed.

[0037]Adaxile surface.—Green Group 137B.

[0038]Abaxile surface.—Yellow Green Group 148B.

[0039]Texture.—Leathery with a crisp feeling.

[0040]Pubescence.—None on either surface.

[0041]Petiole length.—6.5 to 7 cm

[0042]Petiole color.—Adaxial Red Purple 59 A, abaxial Yellow Green 146C.

[0043]Petiole groove.—Narrow.

[0044]Veination.—Pinnate

[0045]Vein color.—Green 137 C on adaxial surface, Yellow Green 144 B onabaxial surface

[0046]Glands.—2 to 3 on petiole, globose tending to oblong, length 2.5to 3 mm, width 1 mm.

[0047]Gland color.—Yellow Green 144 B with a blush of Green Orange 172A.

[0048] Flowers:

[0049]Blooming period.—Mid season, April 25 to April 28 in Geneva, N.Y.

[0050]Presentation.—Showy white.

[0051]Fertility.—Self-fertile.

[0052]Pollen.—Present, plentiful, good pollen source for pollenizing allother sweet cherries that bloom at the mid-season sequence.

[0053]Corolla diameter.—33 mm.

[0054]Number of flowers per cluster.—3 to 7.

[0055]Petals.—Single, round, length 12 mm, width 12 mm, 5 in number,separate, margin wavy at apex, soft texture, White 155 D.

[0056]Peduncle.—4.2 mm. in length and 0.35 mm in width.

[0057]Filament.—Length 8 mm, width 0.1 mm, White 155 D.

[0058]Anther.—Profuse pollen, Yellow 13 B.

[0059]Sepals.—5 in number, Green 143 C, bluntly pointed at apex.

[0060] Fruit:

[0061]Maturity when described.—Commercial ripeness, 17 degrees brix.

[0062]Date of first picking.—Mid-season ripening, July 7 to 10th atGeneva, N.Y.

[0063]Size.—weight: 9 g, length: 3.1 cm, width: 2.8 cm.

[0064]Form.—Round-oblong appearance; fruit tapers from widest dimensionon cheeks toward stigmatic scar and gives the appearance of slightlyheart shape.

[0065]Stem.—Length 37 mm, width 1.5 mm, color Green 143 B.

[0066]Stem scar.—Dry when machine harvested without stems.

[0067]Stem cavity.—Wide, not prone to concentric cracks from rainsettling in the cavity.

[0068] Skin:

[0069]Thickness.—Medium.

[0070]Tendency to crack.—Similar to ‘Emperor Francis’, rated as 6 atGeneva (1, worst to 9 best), may split on shoulders in high rainfallseasons.

[0071]Color.—Blush of skin is Red Group 42A, ground coloration of skinis Yellow Group 11B.

[0072]Flavor.—Good.

[0073] Flesh:

[0074]Texture.—Medium firm, rated as 6 at Geneva (1, worst to 9 best).

[0075]Acidity.—Medium high until sugar level gets to above 15 degreesbrix.

[0076]Flavor.—Good.

[0077]Aroma.—Pleasant, pleasing.

[0078]Color.—Yellow Group 3 A.

[0079]Coloration in the pit cavity.—Same as flesh.

[0080]Eating quality.—Good when mature to above 16 degrees brix,slightly acid if eaten when immature.

[0081] Stone:

[0082]Size: 1.6 cm in length, 1.3 cm in width at widest point near thecenter, 0.8 cm in width at widest point of the flatter direction.

[0083]Form.—Slightly oblong.

[0084]Sides.—Ridges, 4 to 5 in number, with varying amounts ofencircling the suture side of the pit.

[0085]Type.—Free at commercial maturity.

[0086] Use: Dual purpose for either fresh market or processed as brined;may become popular for commercial orchardists to use as pollenizerbecause universally compatible with all other sweet cherry varieties andhas unique fruit coloration which will allow it to be easily identifiedby harvest laborers as they differentiate between dark-type fruit andthis variety; may become popular for home orchards where lightflesh-type is desired if lawn/garden space is limited becauseself-fertile trait allows successful cultivation of just one sweetcherry tree.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree, Prunusavium, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized as tonovelty by the unique combination of self-fertile flowers, lightflesh-type, with good disease tolerance and good hardiness of the tree;and possessing fresh market eating quality and shipping/handlingattributes that meet grade standards for this fruit and possessingprocessing attributes as required for brining uses.